Tian Buji was drenched in sweat from his lack of confidence. He felt Yu Shangrong’s bragging was too exaggerated and getting out of hand. He had witnessed the sparring session between Yu Zhenghai, Yu Shangrong, and the monastery master, Xia Changqiu. Based on their sparring sessions, the duo was evenly matched with the monastery master. They were both at the Eight-leaf stage.
Indeed, with their cultivation bases, the duo had all the reasons to feel proud of themselves. After all, Eight-stage cultivators were also considered as main players in the cultivation world. However, compared to elites like Ye Zhen, Eight-leaf cultivators were… inferior.
Faced with Liang Zidao, even Xia Changqiu, the monastery master, would not confidently claim victory.
Liang Zidao was known as a madman with a bloodlust. He had always been the Flying Star House’s most valiant warrior in the past. Apart from the Flying Star House’s Nine-leaf elites, he had never lost to any Eight-leaf cultivators before.
At this moment, a person to Liang Zidao’s left lowered his altitude for several meters. Then, he looked at Yu Shangrong and said, “The Flying Star House doesn’t kill one without a name. What’s your name?”
As usual, Yu Shangrong did not behave conventionally. Instead, he said, “Since you’re not going to listen to my advice, I’m afraid that I have no choice but to offend you.” With that, he faded out of sight suddenly.
The Eight-leaf red lotus cultivator from the Flying Star House was taken aback. However, he did not summon his avatar. After witnessing his comrade’s avatar being cleaved into two, he knew Yu Shangrong wielded a heaven-grade weapon.
Liang Zidao shook his head. “Yun Huan, make it quick.”
“Understood.” Even an Eight-leaf cultivator, Yun Huan, had to obey Liang Zidao’s orders. Based on this, it was clear how strong Liang Zidao was.
At this moment, Yu Shangrong reappeared and brought his sword down.
Swoosh!
Yun Huan was shocked. With a burst of movement, he hurriedly sped back to put some distance between him and Yu Shangrong.
Yu Shangrong smiled faintly. “Not bad.”
In the gazebo, Yu Zhenghai shook his head as he said, “Second Junior Brother, you’ve already lost during the first move.”
“It’s too early to say that I’ve lost.”
“Don’t underestimate your opponent. If this geezer is deliberately concealing his cultivation base and suddenly reveals himself to be a Nine-leaf cultivator, you’d be caught off guard,” Yu Zhenghai said with a hint of amusement.
Yu Shangrong knew Yu Zhenghai was joking, but he knew Yu Zhenghai had a point as well. ‘Well, if it turns out there’s a Nine-leaf cultivator here, I’ll… I’ll just do what Old Fourth does.’
Yu Shangrong vanished again. In the next second, he appeared in front of Yun Huan and stabbed with his sword. He did not use any energy swords!
The others were puzzled.
Meanwhile, Yun Huan felt humiliated by his opponent. He launched several palm seals in the air.
Yu Shangrong pirouetted and gracefully sidestepped the attacks.
Ji Fengxing exclaimed, brimming with praises, “What swift movements!”
Tian Buji was puzzled. “Why isn’t he using his energy? Is he deliberately doing this?”
Yu Shangrong was at top speed. Red palm seals filled the skies, and yet, he avoided them nimbly with ease. Then, he drew closer to his opponent and swung his sword.
The Traceless Sword.
Yu Shangrong’s Longevity Sword glowed with a red light as it fell toward Yun Huan’s avatar.
“I was waiting for this… Activate!” The red lotus let out a wave of Primal Qi, not energy, that rocked forth.
Yun Huan thought Yu Shangrong would stop attacking and retreat. Alas, his expectations were shattered. He really did not under Yu Shangrong at all.
How could Yun Huan know that the Sword Devil, Yu Shangrong, would never back away? Once the sword was drawn, it would continue without care.
Sideways slice!
The sword left Yu Shangrong’s hand, spinning!
Yu Shangrong defended himself with his arms and flipped backward. He retreated steadily and gracefully.
Bam!
His Longevity Sword drew a cut across the red lotus avatar. Then, it flew in a circle around them before returning to Yu Shangrong’s palm.
Yun Huan glared at Yu Shangrong angrily before he looked at his own avatar with a slight embarrassment. His opponent managed to damage his avatar without even using energy. Although the cut was not deep or fatal, it was still a cut. For an elite, this was an unacceptable shame.
Just when Yun Huan was about to charge again, a voice rang in the air. “Yun Huan.”
“Elder Liang?!” Yun Huan looked up, confused.
“Stand down.”
“I’m not done.”
“You’re not a match for him. If he used his avatar earlier, you would’ve been grievously injured.” Liang Zidao had been watching their exchanges before he came to this conclusion.
Liang Zidao descended slowly.
Yun Huan had no choice but to retreat respectfully.
Liang Zidao looked at Yu Shangrong and said, “You’re powerful.”
“It’s not worth mentioning.” Yu Shangrong smiled faintly.
“But… you’re not powerful enough.” As soon as Liang Zidao finished speaking, he launched energy fists into the air.
The red punches shot toward Yu Shangrong like meteorites.
Yu Shangrong had many combat experiences. He had anticipated Liang Zidao’s sudden attack so he raised his Longevity Sword.
Bam!
The energy fists landed on the sword.
The two of them backed away from each other.
This was merely a probing attack.
“What did Xia Changqiu give you? Why is an elite like yourself willing to help him?”
Yu Shangrong lowered his sword and said calmly, “I’m a guest here. I can’t just sit down and do nothing.”
“Is that it?”
“That’s it.”
Liang Zidao felt like his intelligence was being mocked. He unleashed red energy from his body and charged toward his opponent like a cannonball.
Yu Shangrong swung his sword. He started slow before he slowly picked up pace until the sword became a blur. This resembled the scene where he had cut the witchcraft tendrils above the abyss.
Yu Shangrong could keep himself dry by swinging his sword when he was under a waterfall; he could also prevent snowflakes from touching him when it snowed. When he moved at his top speed, his movements could not be seen with the naked eye. At this moment, all that could be seen was a round area filled with blurry shadows.
Liang Zidao was keeping Yu Shangrong busy as well. He kept hurling energy punches in an attempt to break through the sword shadows before Yu Shangrong.
“This sword technique…” Ji Fengxing’s eyes widened as an expression of shock appeared on his face.
“He’s not giving it his all. This is nothing.” Yu Zhenghai shook his head.
“This isn’t his best?”
“Continue watching.”
At this moment, Liang Zidao finally summoned his avatar. When the red lotus avatar appeared, his speed doubled, and the energy punches in the air immediately converged.
Bam!
Yu Shangrong’s sword shadows converged as well as he parried the energy punch. Then, he flipped backward.
“Do you think that I’m Yun Huan?”
Swoosh!
Liang Zidao flew into his avatar and charged at Yu Shangrong with his red lotus.
Ji Fengxing was inwardly delighted. “It’s a chance to slash his avatar!”
Yu Shangrong flipped his right palm and held his Longevity Sword in a reversed grip. Instead of retreating, he advanced. He faded out of focus and split into three.
“Young man… I’ll teach you a lesson today.”
The red lotus flipped, blossomed, and spun.
Yu Shangrong’s three silhouettes merged into one as he struck with his sword.
At the same time, Liang Zidao lunged forward with his avatar!
“What technique is this?”
“Isn’t he afraid of a heaven-grade weapon?”
Bam!
Yu Shangrong’s Longevity Sword drew across the red lotus.
There was a collision of energies.
However, the sword did not damage the avatar,
When Yu Shangrong looked at the red leaves on the red lotus, he saw there were eight and a half leaves. Half of the ninth leaf had already sprouted.
Energy flowed backward as Liang Zidao launched an energy punch.
Yu Shangrong’s amazing battle reflexes were displayed at this moment. His Eight-leaf golden avatar towered in the air and turned around, meeting the energy punch.
Bam!
The energy punch landed on Yu Shangrong’s avatar. A golden energy sword appeared on the Longevity Sword.
Swoosh!
Yu Shangrong retracted his avatar; he had deflected the attack. He continued attacking with his sword as usual.
Whoosh!
The Longevity Sword landed true; its tip pierced Liang Zidao’s shoulder.
The air seemed to have frozen over.
Everyone looked terrified.
Liang Zidao’s eyes widened. He looked at his shoulder before looking at Yu Shangrong. “An invader from the golden lotus domain?!”
Tian Buji and the others frowned. The appearance of the golden avatar had shocked them.
“Xia Changqiu is colluding with those from the golden lotus domain… No wonder… I’ll draw blood today! Everyone, attack! Don’t let any of them go!”
The Flying Star House had been studying the Black Water Mystic Cave for a long time. It was the earliest sect to send its members to the golden lotus domain.
Initially, Liang Zidao intended to intimidate the Thousand Willow Monastery. However, with the appearance of the golden lotus, he discovered it was a great outlet for his bloodlust.
At this moment, dozens of disciples emerged from Flying Star House’s flying chariot. Along with the other disciples who were already on the scene, they circulated their Primal Qi.
Yun Huan glanced at Tian Buji and said, “The Thousand Willow Monastery is colluding with the foreign tribes. Kill them all!”
Ji Fengxing and Wuwu were stunned.
“How? G-golden? What’s the meaning of this?” Wuwu looked at Yu Zhenghai.
Yu Zhenghai merely shook his head and said, “Second Junior Brother, are you still going to hold back against such a powerful opponent?”
Yu Shangrong raised his Longevity Sword and said, “Eight-leaf and a half… Interesting.” Then, he joined his palms together. His Longevity Sword split into two, four, eight…
Primal Restoration.
Thousands upon thousands of energy swords appeared above Yu Shangrong.
“Eight-and-a-half leaf?” Yu Zhenghai looked at Liang Zidao upon hearing Yu Shangrong’s words.
The cultivators swarmed over.
Yu Shangrong summoned his avatar again as energy swords spun in the air!
Several cultivators were struck down from the air.
The Sword Devil Destiny!
With a grand technique, thousands of energy swords rained down on the Flying Star House disciples and struck them down easily. The energy swords continued to attack them relentlessly.
Tian Buji and Ji Fengxing gulped.
“This is a second-grade sword technique?”
The disciples of the Flying Star House parried the countless energy swords. Those who were slightly distracted even for a second lost their lives.
“Young man… It’s over!” With a burst of movement, Liang Zidao entered the range of the Sword Devil Destiny. Currently, his Eight-and-a-half-leaf avatar was… upside-down! Its lotus was above while the avatar was below! The red lotus blocked the countless energy swords while he launched energy fists at his opponent.
“Big brother!”
“Senior!”
Yu Zhenghai frowned slightly. He placed his hand on his Jasper Saver. His fingers were shaking slightly. ‘Second Junior Brother…’
Before Yu Zhenghai could act, a smile bloomed on Yu Shangrong’s face. “My apologies, I was aiming for the red lotus!”
Whizz!
The golden avatar appeared again. Its arms and palms that shone with golden radiance held a huge energy sword and swung it down.
“What’s this? The avatar can move?”
“There’s no golden lotus?!”
Liang Zidao finally noticed that Yu Shangrong was no longer holding his Longevity Sword. There was only an energy sword!
The massive energy sword slashed down.
“D*mn it!” Liang Zidao felt a pang of pain. He grunted as a quarter of his red lotus was severed by the huge energy sword!
Yu Shangrong lowered his altitude and raised his hand gracefully. His avatar vanished, and the Longevity Sword flew in a circle in the sky before returning to him.
Liang Zidao’s face was flushed red. He was sent flying back for more than 100 meters, throwing up blood.
Tian Buji stared at this scene with his mouth agape. Due to the exciting battle, he was filled with the urge to clap but restrained himself in the end.
Was there ever an Eight-leaf cultivator who could defeat an Eight-and-a-half-leaf cultivator?
Even Yu Shangrong’s Eldest Senior Brother, Yu Zhenghai, who always bickered with him could not help but raise his hands and clap.
“What do you think?” Yu Shangrong smiled faintly.
